Connector

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Applications No. JP2022-011661 filed Jan. 28, 2022 and JP2022-087484 filed May 30, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

This invention relates to a connector, particularly, to a connector provided with a plurality of terminals arranged in a predetermined direction.

JP 2018-142456 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a connector provided with a plurality of terminals arranged in two rows. As shown in, a connectorof Patent Document 1 is provided with a plurality of terminals, a housing (a holding member)which holds the terminalsand two additional members (holddowns)provided at both ends of the housing.

As understood from, the housinghas a surrounding walland a protruding wall. When viewed along an up-down direction (a Z-direction), the surrounding wallhas a frame shape long in a pitch direction (an X-direction). In detail, the surrounding wallhas a pair of side wallsextending in the pitch direction and a pair of coupling wallsextending in a width direction (a Y-direction). The protruding wallhas a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape long in the pitch direction. The protruding wallis located inward of the surrounding wallin each of the pitch direction and the width direction. The protruding wallis coupled to the surrounding wallby a plurality of bottom wall portions (not shown).

As shown in, each of the additional membershas a pair of side portionsand a coupling portionwhich couples the side portionswith each other. Each of the side portionscovers the side wallof the housing, which corresponds thereto, in part. The coupling portioncovers the coupling wallof the housing, which corresponds thereto, in part.

In the connectorof Patent Document 1, the housingis molded by using resin. In detail, the housingis manufactured by pouring melted resin into a cavity of a die (not shown). Generally, the pouring of the melted resin is performed from an end of the cavity in a longitudinal direction. In a case of the connectorof Patent Document 1, one of the coupling wallsof the housingis a part corresponding to the end of the cavity in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the melted resin is poured into the cavity so that the melted resin flows through a part of the cavity, which corresponds to one of the coupling wallsof the housing, toward another part of the cavity, which corresponds to the other of the coupling wallsof the housing.

As understood from, an area of a cross-section of the housingthat is taken on a plane perpendicular to the pitch direction varies significantly depending on its cutting position. In particular, an area of a cross-section whose cutting position is located at the coupling wallis significantly different from another area of a cross-section whose cutting position is located between the coupling walland the protruding wall. This means that there can be a bottleneck when the housingis molded. Such structure of the cavity tends to cause a short shot that the melted resin is inadequately poured into the cavity. In particular, the tendency is remarkable when a size of the housingin the pitch direction is larger. Accordingly, the connectorof Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to increase the size of the housingin the pitch direction. This also means that it is difficult to increase the number of the terminalsof the connector. Therefore, there is a demand for a connector provided with a holding member which has structure in which fluidity of melted resin is considered so that it can increase a size of a housing in a pitch direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector which is provided with a holding member with structure in which fluidity of melted resin is considered.

One aspect of the present invention provides a connector which comprises a plurality of terminals, a holding member which holds the terminals and two holddowns which are located at both ends of the holding member in a pitch direction. The holding member comprises two side portions, two accommodation portions and an island portion. The island portion is located between the side portions in a width direction perpendicular to the pitch direction. The accommodation portions correspond to the side portions, respectively. Each of the accommodation portions is located between the side portion corresponding thereto and the island portion in the width direction. Each of the accommodation portions is an area which accommodates a part of the mating connector when the connector and the mating connector are mated with each other. The accommodation portions are located within a range not larger than the island portion in the pitch direction. Each of the terminals has a contact point. The terminals are divided into two terminal rows. The terminal rows correspond to the accommodation portions, respectively. The contact points of the terminals belonging to each of the terminal rows are located at least in part in the accommodation portion corresponding to the terminal row. Each of the holddowns has an end wall portion and two side coupling portions. The end wall portion is located at either one of end portions of the connector in the pitch direction. The side coupling portions couple the end wall portion to the side portions, respectively. The holding member does not overlap with the end wall portions of the holddowns in an up-down direction perpendicular to both the pitch direction and the width direction.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a connector which comprises a plurality of terminals, a holding member which holds the terminals and two holddowns which are located at both ends of the holding member in a pitch direction. The holding member comprises two side portions, two accommodation portions and an island portion. The island portion is located between the side portions in a width direction perpendicular to the pitch direction. The accommodation portions correspond to the side portions, respectively. Each of the accommodation portions is located between the side portion corresponding thereto and the island portion in the width direction. Each of the accommodation portions is an area which accommodates a part of the mating connector when the connector and a mating connector are mated with each other. Each of the terminals has a contact point. The terminals are divided into two terminal rows. The terminal rows correspond to the accommodation portions, respectively. The contact points of the terminals belonging to each of the terminal rows are located at least in part in the accommodation portion corresponding to the terminal row. The island portion is provided with a gate mark on a bottom portion thereof at a vicinity of one of the end portions thereof in the pitch direction.

In the connector according to the aspect of the present invention, the two holddowns are located at the both ends of the holding member in the pitch direction. In addition, the end wall portions of the holddowns do not overlap with the holding member in the up-down direction. In other words, the holding member does not reach the both ends of the connector in the pitch direction. Thus, structure of the end portions of the holding member in the pitch direction can be simplified, and fluidity of melted resin can be improved when the holding member is molded. In this way, the present invention can provide a connector which is provided with a holding member with structure in which fluidity of melted resin is considered. Moreover, the present invention can provide a connector with structure in which terminals can be easily increased in number.

An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to, a connectoraccording to an embodiment of the present invention is a connector which is mateable with and separatable from a mating connectorin an up-down direction. Each of the connectorand the mating connectoris a board mounting type connector which is mounted on a substrate (not shown). For example, the connectoris mounted on an upper surface of a first substrate (not shown) while the mating connectoris mounted on a lower surface of a second substrate (not shown). In the present embodiment, the up-down direction is a Z-direction. A positive Z-direction is directed upward while a negative Z-direction is directed downward.

As shown in, the mating connectoris a plug connector which is long in a pitch direction and has a low profile. The mating connectoris provided with a plurality of mating terminals, a mating holding memberwhich holds the mating terminalsand two mating holddowns. Each of the mating terminalsand the mating holddownsis made of metal, and the mating holding memberis made of insulating resin. The mating holddownsare located at both ends of the mating holding memberin a pitch direction. In the present embodiment, the pitch direction is a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, an X-direction.

As shown in, the mating terminalsare divided into two mating terminal rows. The two mating terminal rowsare arranged in a width direction perpendicular to both the pitch direction and the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the width direction is a Y-direction. In each of the mating terminal rows, the mating terminalsare arranged in the pitch direction at predetermined intervals. In the present embodiment, the mating terminalsare held by the mating holding memberby insert molding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The mating terminalsmay be held by the mating holding memberby means of any method other than the insert molding, for example, press-fitting.

As understood from, the mating terminalsinclude first mating terminalsand second mating terminals. The first mating terminalsand the second mating terminalsare alternately arranged in the pitch direction. The two mating terminal rowsare rotational symmetry about an axis along the up-down direction. In the pitch direction, the first mating terminaland the second mating terminalare arranged.

As understood from, in the present embodiment, the first mating terminaland the second mating terminalare same as each other in basic structure, but they are slightly different from each other in shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first mating terminaland the second mating terminalmay be same as or different from each other in shape. Additionally, the detailed description about the shapes of the first mating terminaland the second mating terminalis omitted.

As understood from, the mating connectorhas a top portionand two accommodated portions. The top portionis a part of the mating holding member. Each of the accommodated portionsis formed by a part of the mating holding memberand parts of the mating terminals. The accommodated portionscorrespond to the mating terminal rows, respectively, and extend in the pitch direction. The two accommodated portionsare coupled to each other by the top portionand protrude downward from the top portion. Each of the mating holddownscouples either one couple of end portions of the accommodated portionsto each other. Each of the mating holddownshas an end accommodated portionextending in the width direction.

As shown in, the connectoris a receptacle connector which is long in the pitch direction and has a low profile. The connectoris provided with a plurality of terminals, a holding memberwhich holds the terminalsand two holddowns. Each of the terminalsand the holddownsis made of metal while the holding memberis made of insulating resin. The holddownsare located at both ends of the holding memberin the pitch direction.

As shown in, the terminalsare divided into two terminal rows. The two terminal rowsare arranged in the width direction. In each of the terminal rows, the terminalsare arranged in the pitch direction at predetermined intervals. In the present embodiment, the terminalsare held by the holding memberby press fitting. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The terminalsmay be held by the holding memberby means of any method other than press fitting, for example, insert molding.

Referring to, the holding memberhas two side portions, two accommodation portions, an island portionand a plurality of coupling portions. Each of the side portions, the accommodation portionsand the island portionextends in the pitch direction. The island portionis located between the side portionsin the width direction. In the present embodiment, the island portionhas a generally frame shape when viewed along the up-down direction. The accommodation portionscorrespond to the side portions, respectively. In detail, each of the accommodation portionsis located between the side portioncorresponding thereto and the island portionin the width direction. In the present embodiment, each of the accommodation portionshas a channel-like shape extending in the pitch direction. In the pitch direction, a size of the accommodation portionis equal to that of the side portion. In other words, the accommodation portionspierce the holding memberin the pitch direction. In the pitch direction, the size of the side portionis smaller than that of the island portion. Accordingly, the accommodation portionsare located within a range not larger than the island portionin the pitch direction.

As understood from.,, andA, the terminal rowscorrespond to the side portionsof the holding member, respectively, and to the accommodation portions, respectively. The terminal rowsalso correspond to the mating terminal rows, respectively, and the terminalscorrespond to the mating terminals, respectively.

As understood from, the terminalsinclude first terminalsand second terminals. The first terminalsand the second terminalsare alternately arranged in the pitch direction. The first terminalscorrespond to the first mating terminals, respectively, and the second terminalscorrespond to the second mating terminals, respectively. The two terminal rowsare rotational symmetry about an axis along the up-down direction. In the pitch direction, the first terminaland the second terminalare arranged.

As understood from, in the present embodiment, the first terminaland the second terminalare same as each other in basic structure, but they are slightly different from each other in shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first terminaland the second terminalmay be same as or different from each other in shape. The detailed description about the shapes of the first terminaland the second terminalis omitted.

As shown in, each of the terminalshas a contact point. In the present embodiment, each of the terminalsfurther has an additional contact point. The contact pointand the additional contact pointare supported by a supporting portion, and they are apart from and face each other in the width direction. Each of the first terminalsis partly embedded in the side portioncorresponding thereto and held by the holding member. Each of the second terminalsis partly embedded in the island portionand held by the holding member. The supporting portionof each of the terminalsis not embedded in the holding memberbut resiliently deformable. Thus, each of the terminalsis a spring contact. Due to resilient deformation of the supporting portion, a distance between the contact pointand the additional contact pointis variable in the width direction.

As understood from, each of the accommodation portionsof the holding memberis an area which accommodates a part of the mating connectorwhen the connectorand the mating connectorare mated with each other. In detail, the accommodation portionsare areas which accommodate the accommodated portionsof the mating connector, respectively. As shown in, the contact pointand the additional contact pointof the terminalare located at least in part in the accommodation portioncorresponding to the terminal. When the connectorand the mating connectorare mated with each other, the contact pointand the additional contact pointare brought into contact with the mating terminalcorresponding to them.

As shown in, each of the holddownshas an end wall portionand two side coupling portions. The end wall portionhas a generally inverted U-shape when viewed along the width direction and extends in the width direction. The side coupling portionsare provided on both ends of the end wall portionin the width direction. Each of the side coupling portionshas a generally inverted J-shape when viewed along the pitch direction and extends in the pitch direction. In the present embodiment, each of the holddownsfurther has a side embedded portionextending from each of the side coupling portionsin the pitch direction. In the present embodiment, the side embedded portionhas a generally V-shape when viewed along the width direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shape of the side embedded portionis not particularly limited.

As shown in, each of the holddownsof the present embodiment further has a middle coupling portion. The middle coupling portionextends inward in the pitch direction from an inner lower end of the end wall portionin the pitch direction, and then extends upward, and further extends inward in the pitch direction. The middle coupling portionis apart from the side coupling portionsin the width direction. In the present embodiment, the middle coupling portionis forked at a tip side thereof. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The holddownmay not have the middle coupling portion. Moreover, the middle coupling portionmay not be forked.

As shown in, the holddownfurther has two middle embedded portionsextending from the middle coupling portion. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The holddownmay not have the middle embedded portions. Moreover, the number of the middle embedded portion(s)may be equal to one depending on the shape of the middle coupling portion.

As shown in, the end wall portionof each of the holddownsis located at either one of end portions of the connectorin the pitch direction. Each of the side coupling portionscouples the end wall portionto either one of the side portionsof the holding member. As understood from, the side embedded portionsare embedded in the side portionsof the holding member, respectively. In the present embodiment, the holddownis attached to the holding memberby insert molding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The holddownmay be attached to the holding memberby means of any method other than the insert molding, for example, press fitting.

As understood from, the end wall portionof the holddownis apart from the holding memberin the pitch direction. In other words, in the up-down direction, the holding memberdoes not overlap with the end wall portion. As understood from, in the pitch direction, a space is provided between the accommodation portionsand the end wall portionof each of the holddowns. Moreover, between the holding memberand the end wall portionin the pitch direction, an end accommodation portionis formed.

As understood from, the middle coupling portionof the holddownis embedded in the island portionof the holding memberin part. The middle coupling portioncouples the end wall portionto the island portionof the holding member. In addition, as understood from, the middle embedded portionsof the holddownextend toward the island portionof the holding memberfrom the middle coupling portionand are embedded in the island portion.

As shown in, the middle coupling portionhas a side surfacedirected outward in the pitch direction and upper surfaces, and the side surfaceand the upper surfacesare exposed outside the holding member. A border portion between the side surfaceand each of the upper surfacesof the middle coupling portionfunctions as a protection portionwhich protects the island portionof the holding memberin part. In detail, the protection portioncovers and protects, at least in part, an upper corner portion of an end portion in the pitch direction of the island portionof the holding member. When the connectoris mated with the mating connector, the protection portionprevents the mating connectorfrom being brought into contact with the island portionand from scraping or breaking the island portion. Thus, in the present embodiment, the holddownhas the protection portionswhich cover and protect, at least in part, the upper corner portion of the end portion in the pitch direction of the island portionof the holding member.

As understood from, in the present embodiment, both ends of each of the accommodation portions of the holding memberare located inward of the island portionin the pitch direction. In addition, the middle coupling portionof the holddownis apart from the side coupling portionsin the width direction. Accordingly, the connectorof the present embodiment has penetration areaswhich are located outward of the holding memberin a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction and which penetrate the connectorin the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the penetration areasare four in number. Each of the penetration areasis located between the middle coupling portionand either one of the side coupling portions. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connectorshould have at least one penetration area. For example, when the holddowndoes not have the middle coupling portion, the number of the penetration areasis equal to two. At any rate, in the present embodiment, when viewed from inside of the accommodation portiontoward outside in the pitch direction, a part of the holddownor the end wall portionis visible without obstruction of the holding member.

As understood from, in the holding memberof the connectoraccording to the present embodiment, a cross-sectional area taken on a plane perpendicular to the pitch direction is the smallest at the end portion of the holding memberin the pitch direction. This means that this structure does not have a portion which might become a bottleneck when the holding memberis molded. Thus, the holding memberis improved so that fluidity of melted resin upon molding thereof is increased. Accordingly, it is easy to increase a size of the holding memberin the pitch direction and the number of the terminals. Therefore, in the connectorof the present embodiment, it is easy to increase the number of the terminals.

As understood from, the end portion of the holding memberin the pitch direction is the end portion of the island portionin the pitch direction. Accordingly, the molding of the holding memberis performed so that melted resin flows through a part of a cavity of a die, which corresponds to one of the end portions of the island portionin the pitch direction, to another part of the cavity, which corresponds to the other of the end portions of the island portionin the pitch direction. Consequently, as shown in, on the holding memberof the connectoraccording to the present embodiment, a gate markis provided near one of the end portions of the island portionin the pitch direction, specifically, at a bottom portion of the island portion. It is noted that the gate markis a mark of an inlet gate for the cavity of the die (not shown) used for molding the holding member. The bottom portion of the island portionis a part directed downward in the up-down direction. Incidentally, short shot of the molded resin to be filled into the cavity can be easily solved by increasing the number of inlet gates. However, increasing the number of the inlet gates tends to generate weld lines on a molded article or the holding member. The weld lines deteriorate strength of the molded article. Accordingly, it is preferable that the number of the inlet gate(s) is equal to one, and, in that sense, the structure of the holding memberof the present embodiment is valid.

Although the specific explanation about the present invention is made above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto but susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the size of the side portionof the holding memberin the pitch direction is smaller than that of the island portionin the pitch direction. However, the size of the side portionof the holding memberin the pitch direction may be larger than that of the island portionin the pitch direction.

Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiment, the terminalsof each of the terminal rowsare arranged so that the contact pointsof the first terminalsand the contact pointsof the second terminalsform a staggered arrangement. However, the terminalsof each of the terminal rowsmay be arranged so that the contact pointsof them are arranged in a straight line. In that case, the first terminaland the second terminalmay have shapes same as each other.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the island portionhas the generally frame shape. However, the island portionmay have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape like the protruding wallof Patent Document 1.

While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.